Whiplash

Whiplash is a common injury and one that can be painful and have a significant impact on your ability to complete routine tasks. Elizabeth Greenberg, DC, offers numerous treatment options to help patients in the greater New York area find relief from whiplash symptoms. Chiropractic care can also restore proper function, getting you back into your routines. To learn more, schedule an appointment online or contact the Union Square office.

Whiplash Q & A

What is whiplash?

Whiplash is a neck injury that occurs after rapid acceleration and deceleration forces cause your head to move in a sudden and swift back-and-forth motion. Whiplash is most commonly the result of a motor vehicle accident, when an impact from behind causes your head to jerk forward and then backward.

Here are some other activities or experiences that can cause whiplash injury:

Football or other contact sports

Assault

Rollercoaster rides

Bungee jumping

Falls or sudden stops during recreational activities such as skiing or horseback riding

What are the symptoms of whiplash?

In the immediate aftermath of a car accident or other traumatic event, adrenaline floods your body, and you may not notice any symptoms. Soon afterward, a whiplash injury may produce the following symptoms:

Neck pain or stiffness

Pain in the shoulder, jaw, or arm

Dizziness

Fatigue

Ringing in the ears

Vision problems

Headaches

Weakness in the arms

Left untreated, a whiplash injury can develop into a condition known as a whiplash-associated disorder. Sufferers are known to have higher than average rates of anger, anxiety, depression, stress, and even drug dependency and sleep disturbances.

What are the treatment options for whiplash?

Treatment begins with a thorough assessment of your condition. Dr. Greenberg takes the time to understand the full scope of your injury as well as your overall health condition. An X-ray or other imaging may be necessary to understand the severity of your whiplash.

Chiropractic adjustments are common for whiplash injuries and involve the manual manipulation of spinal joints. There are several ways to approach spinal manipulation for this condition because of the various symptoms that arise from whiplash.

Specific spinal manipulation

Gentle thrusting techniques are used to restore proper motion and alignment to joints that are restricted or moving improperly. This approach gently stretches the soft tissues in the affected area and prompts your nervous system to allow normal spinal motion.

Instrument-assisted manipulation

Some people respond well to the use of special hand-held instruments that apply force to the spine without a thrusting action. Dr. Greenberg uses the Impulse, Activator and ProAdjuster™ system to complete certain adjustments.

These are just a few treatment options Dr. Greenberg offers to her patients suffering from whiplash. Many patients respond well to physical therapy, targeted stretching and exercises, and natural anti-inflammatory medications. If you’ve been involved in an accident and are experiencing symptoms of whiplash, contact the office right away to schedule an appointment.